title: In vitro production of testosterone and plasma levels of luteinising hormone, testosterone and cortisol in male rats treated with heptachlor.
abstract: Male rats were divided into six groups of five rats each. Rats were injected subcutaneously with different concentrations of heptachlor for 2 weeks. Heptachlor at all doses significantly suppressed plasma testosterone levels (P < 0.05). Plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) (P < 0.01) and cortisol (P < 0.02) levels were significantly elevated in heptachlor-treated rats as compared to corn oil-treated controls. LH and testosterone levels showed strong correlation (r = 0.69, P < 0.05). The testes in rats treated with 25 mg/kg body weight of heptachlor showed some pathological changes. We conclude that heptachlor causes adverse effects on several male reproductive parameters in rats.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Biology Unit, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Wango
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Onyango
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Odongo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okindo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mugweru
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival; D006533:Heptachlor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016014:Linear Models; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D013739:Testosterone; D006533:Heptachlor; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone